Asphalt Crack Repair Houston, TX
What is Asphalt Crack Repair?
In Houston, asphalt crack repair and sealing provides your asphalt pavement protection against aging and prolongs its life. Our crack sealing process is fast, affordable, and extends the life of your pavement by filling in voids and helping retain the asphalts oils. The Texas weather is brutal and this is on way to help prolong the life of the asphalt.
- One of our Highly Trained Professionals will go assess your property. You will receive a Free Consultation and Estimate.
- We will thoroughly clean out the cracks and joints where the asphalt shows signs of deterioration.
- Apply hot-rubber Crack fill material.
Asphalt Crack Repair: Preserve Your Pavement’s Integrity and Extend Its Life
Asphalt is a flexible pavement, designed to bend without sustaining damage. Age, wear, weather, and the occasional accident, though, can all cause cracks to emerge in the asphalt. When cracks do emerge, worse damage is sure to follow.
Fortunately, asphalt cracks are inexpensive to address and can be reliably repaired by a professional pavement team.
Why It’s Important to Address Asphalt Cracks as Soon as Possible
Because they’re so common, asphalt cracks may seem harmless. In fact, they greatly increase the chances of your pavement failing early. When cracks open up in asphalt, water can flow freely into the pavement and penetrate into its deeper layers. Asphalt’s subsurface layers are sensitive to moisture exposure and will degrade in its presence. This is due to chemical reactions involving water and the asphalt binder – which holds the pavement’s aggregate together.
With time, water will cause these subsurface layers to fail entirely and subside. The result? Potholes. The situation is worse in cold climates, because when water freezes inside the asphalt, it expands and pushes on the asphalt’s surface layer.
No matter where your property is located, though, cracks mean worse, and more expensive damage is to come.
What Asphalt Cracks Need to be Repaired?
Asphalt can crack in a multitude of ways, but they all require attention. Wider cracks – those over a half-inch in width, will likely require professional repair to seal up. And these cracks are the ones to target first for repair, as they’re more likely to permit water intrusion.
Again, there are many types of asphalt cracks, and some require more than a filler to completely resolve. Some of the most common cracks include:
● Longitudinal cracking – Longitudinal cracking (or linear cracking) usually emerges around joints and emerges parallel to joints. Asphalt pavement is installed in sections, one strip at a time, like mowing a lawn. If the joints between these sections are not properly installed, longitudinal cracks may appear. Surface shrinkage and extreme temperature fluctuations can also cause linear cracks.
● Transverse cracking – Transverse cracking emerges perpendicular to the asphalt’s joints, so they occur in the opposite direction of longitudinal cracks. They are caused by the same stressors that lead to longitudinal cracks. Specifically, asphalt shrinkage or poor joint installation.
● Edge cracking – Edge cracks are linear cracks that appear close to the pavement’s perimeter. They can extend for some distance and are typically caused by drainage issues, thick vegetation near the pavement’s edge, or excessive loading.
● Fatigue (alligator) cracking – Fatigue cracking is also known as alligator cracking because it resembles the scaly back of a reptile. Fatigue cracking typically points to significant issues below the pavement’s surface, and may be caused by poor installation techniques, poor drainage, or repeated, excessive loading.
● Slippage cracking – Slippage cracks look like semicircle-shaped tears in the asphalt’s surface. You’ll also see ripple-like formations on the surface when slippage cracks are present. In the vast majority of instances, slippage cracks are due to inadequate adhesion between surface and subsurface layers. Cracks can also emerge if too much sand was included in the pavement mix.
● Block cracking – Block cracks form into rectangles as they emerge and only affect the top layer of the asphalt. A common cause is inadequate moisture in the pavement mix, though block cracks can also occur in response to big temperature swings.
As you can see, severe cracking is often a sign of deeper pavement issues or just excessive aging or wearing. Addressing these issues is key to a long-lasting, reliable repair.
How Do the Pavement Professionals Manage Asphalt Crack Repairs?
An experienced pavement contractor can provide the necessary expertise, manpower and technology needed for crack repair. They’re also prepared for any type of asphalt cracking because each type requires a different repair process. Specifically, this is how the professionals will tackle each:
● Longitudinal and transverse cracking – If linear cracks are severe, the asphalt may need to be cut and patched. If linear cracking is minor, though, crack fillers can be used to seal the crack up and prevent moisture intrusion. It’s recommended that drainage work be included with linear crack repairs, as this will protect from the cracks reforming.
● Edge cracking – Edge cracking can also be addressed with crack fillers and better drainage. To prevent edge cracks from returning, clear any heavy vegetation from the pavement’s perimeter.
● Fatigue cracking – Fatigue cracking cannot be addressed with crack fillers alone. Because it’s caused by full-depth pavement failures, the failed asphalt will need to be cut out and the base stabilized. Once this is done, new asphalt can be patched in and compacted.
● Slippage cracking – Slippage cracks also mandate removal and replacement. In some cases, repairs may be possible with only a partial depth patch, but full depth patching may be required for severe cracking.
● Block cracking – Block cracks are a surface level phenomenon, so full depth replacement is not necessary. What is typically necessary, though, is an overlay. Overlaying involves installing a new layer of asphalt over the existing pavement’s surface. As block cracking is the result of poor asphalt mixing, overlaying with a fresh layer of asphalt will resolve the problem.
When crack fillers are used to repair asphalt, the process involves cleaning the cracks out using air or heat. The crack filler, which is a rubberized compound that contains asphalt, is heated up in a kettle and then deposited over the cracks. Before it cures, the crack filler flows like a viscous fluid and plugs up the gap.
The above is a general guide. It’s always recommended to consult with an experienced pavement contractor before making any decisions regarding crack repairs. A professional team will need to inspect the damage before they can pinpoint where and what repairs are needed.
Asphalt Cracks Eventually Lead to Bigger, and More Expensive, Pavement Problems
When professionally installed and maintained, asphalt pavement will last decades before it needs to be replaced. Between installation and replacement, however, your pavement will require the occasional crack repair. When cracks appear, act quickly, as this will protect the pavement from water or dust intrusion – and additional pavement problems.
Call to schedule your FREE Consultation.
Whether you have a cracked parking lot, fading stripes, or a parking lot that needs repair or replacement, you can rely on American Paving Asphalt Contractors Houston Texas to do a quick, cost-efficient, and professional job. Our team at American Paving will complete your asphalt paving project on time and within your budget.
American Paving handles a wide variety of Asphalt Maintenance Solutions, we would love to guide you through the process of determining which type of repair is best for you and your property. We offer a full range of asphalt services and solutions to meet your budget.
We work closely with Managers of Commercial Properties to get their Asphalt Repair completed within their ideal hours and budget, so they have as little downtime as possible. We understand even though asphalt pavement repairs are important, you still need to run your business.
We hire only highly trained professionals to work on our projects, so our customer’s expectations are always met or exceeded. We will walk you through each step of the process of your asphalt pavement repair. We strive for nothing but your absolute satisfaction. We are Veteran-Owned and Operated, and we take a strong sense pride in our work and hold ourselves to the highest standards. Do not delay! Give the experts at American Paving a call today!